Central Continent - Minor Gathering of the Three Sects (1)
Central Continent - Minor Gathering of the Three Sects (1)
Ten-odd years had passed since the southern continent of the Realm of Ghosts, Nanhuang, was destroyed.
To high-level cultivators, it was merely an instant, but for low-level cultivators, it was a time pushed far into the distant past.
At this time when the changes brought by destruction were stealthily spreading across the entire continent—
Jungju, the center of the Realm of Ghosts, was bustling merrily in a festive atmosphere.
In the Realm of Ghosts, where spiritual energy was dry, it was natural common sense for the Demonic Dao to be the mainstream and the Righteous Dao to be treated as sorcery, but this Jungju was the sole sanctuary where Righteous Dao cultivators could stay in comfort.
The disappearance of Nanhuang, a region of the Demonic Dao, was bewildering to the cultivators of Jungju, yet a delightful situation.
Since their tedious enemies had vanished overnight, if anything, they rejoiced.
Since ten-odd years had passed without anything happening, it was simply a misfortune that befell Nanhuang.
The world kept turning just fine.
Jungju's Samwonseong.
Today of all days, this city, the center of Jungju, was bustling with crowds.
"Is it finally today? It has been a long, long 50 years."
"Who do you think will win this year? I'm betting on Sam Geomyeon of the Great Void Sword Sect. They say that even though he's at the Qi Refining stage, his flying sword easily surpasses the Donggyeong Region."
"Ha! You beat me to it. In that case, I'm betting on Young Master Do Yunbaek of Heaven's Degree Palace. Rumors are rampant that despite being at the Qi Refining stage, he already possesses wisdom on par with a formation master. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a strong candidate for winning this tournament."
"If a formation master meets a swordsman, could he even hold out for a single move? If they meet in a one-on-one duel, the victory is already decided."
"You never know about that!"
Busy bodies chattered in the inn.
They casually brought up and evaluated the promising talents of the three major Righteous sects.
No one looked at them with concern.
Because on a day like today, such behavior was understandable.
The joint Qi Refining stage tournament of the three major sects, Samjongsohoe.
It was a tournament where prospects harboring the potential for the Great Dao came up from all over Jungju to compete for victory.
One might wonder what there is to see in a tournament of the Qi Refining stage, the lowest among the realms of cultivation, but precisely because of that, people were interested in and cheered for the struggles of young boys and girls.
What's more, prospects specially nurtured by the three major sects were participating directly.
Since no one knew what kind of giant trees they would grow into in the future, storing their fresh, youthful days in one's memory was also good entertainment, wasn't it?
"What about Fire-Firing Hand of Hundred Herb Valley? They say this year is really different."
"While we're always indebted to Hundred Herb Valley's pills and spiritual medicines, wouldn't it still be difficult for craft masters to defeat combat cultivators? It's been a long, long time since a rising talent from Hundred Herb Valley won Samjongjihoe."
"Listen to me, this time it's for real. This is a story I heard from a senior-nim I know..."
Thump!
Putting down his cup, a rogue cultivator with a flushed, drunk face raised his voice.
"The winner of this Samjongsohoe belongs to Mu-hyung-nim!"
"M-Mu-hyung-nim? Who is that?"
"You don't know? The rumors of Gwijinseong from 3 years ago?"
Gwijinseong, a checkpoint that inspects external cultivators entering Jungju.
Most demonic beasts or disguised demon beasts are filtered out here.
"If it's the rumors of Gwijinseong, do you mean that gatekeeper incident?"
"Yeah! You guys don't know, that person is the real prospect!"
The drunk rogue cultivator boasted plausibly, but the reaction he received was cold ridicule.
"To think there's someone who actually believes that rumor, you're a bit lacking."
"What?"
"Doesn't it make no sense? A Qi Refining stage cultivator beating down Foundation Establishment gatekeepers with just his fists, does that even sound possible? Is he a member of the Heavenly Cult or something?"
Even the prospects of the three major sects only have skills superior to the Donggyeong Region, and wouldn't dare boast of overcoming a major realm gap.
Even for a rogue cultivator without backing, if there is a difference in realm, it's common sense for even prospects of the three major sects to treat them as seniors rather than picking a fight.
When even they are like that, a rogue cultivator who crossed a major realm appeared?
It was a rumor hard to easily believe.
"Don't take rumors seriously. Rather than saying a Qi Refining cultivator beat Foundation Establishment cultivators, it's certain that he got caught trying to enter while hiding his realm and went on a rampage."
"If he's a rogue cultivator from outside, he must be an ignorant fool who barely survived fleeing demonic beasts, so since he caused such trouble, he was probably already caught and beaten half to death. Haha!"
In an instant, the tavern turned into a sea of laughter, and the rogue cultivator standing in the middle kicked the table and charged at them.
"What the fuck do you know to blabber like that! Did you see it?! Did you see it?! I got fired from my gatekeeper position because of that and that's why I'm here!"
"Where do you think you are to cause a commotion! You bastard, what is your sect!"
"Your mom!"
A dirty brawl unfitting for cultivators pursuing the Great Dao broke out in the tavern, but this too was a form of enjoying the festival.
The main stars of that festival were heading to the tournament venue one by one.
"Participant. Please write down your affiliation, name, age, realm, and spiritual root here."
"Here you go."
"Yes, received. No affiliation, name is Mu Jayeon, age is 48, realm is Qi Refining Great Circle, spiritual root is Five Spiritual Roots. Confirmed. Please take your token here. Please wait in the preliminary waiting room until called."
"Yes."
"Next person!"
This man walking sluggishly toward the tournament venue holding his token.
That's right. The cultivator who was kicked out by his lovers for having no cultivation progress.
"That's me."
"Phew."
Waiting in the waiting room, he becomes The Thinker.
How did things turn out like this?
Clearly, the intended outcome was to be sandwiched between his two lovers and enjoy a pampered, happy-happy cultivation life.
'Jeong-in-nim, you will be able to reach Foundation Establishment within 10 years and Core Formation within 50 years.'
'Pardon?'
'I might be underestimating you too much, but if it's Jeong-in-nim, you can do it.'
'Pardon?'
One of them had excessively high expectations.
No, well, given how much he received, it was right that he should do it.
'How long does it usually take to reach Foundation Establishment?'
'Based on Heavenly Spiritual Root, if you focus solely on raising your realm, 10 years is plenty like Mother said. It took me 6 years.'
'You had a Heavenly Spiritual Root?'
'Did you forget whose body I have? I was born with a mutated spiritual root called Blood Spiritual Root and even a unique bloodline.'
Right, because he couldn't fall behind his lover, he worked his ass off.
As a result, in 5 years, beyond restoring his previous realm, he reached Qi Refining Great Circle.
Up until then, it was good.
Though once she realized his internal foundation was complete shit from only raising his realm, Jeokhwa's gaze turned shady.
'If you do not polish your body well during the Qi Refining stage, you may suffer greatly when raising your next realm. Haven't you focused too much on merely increasing your cultivation level?'
'I tried hard!'
It was a total shitshow.
Because he was even weaker than when he stayed at the 5th Layer of Qi Refining.
'How could this happen? Did I misjudge Jeong-in-nim's talent?'
'Mother, gaga might...'
'That might be so...!'
Jeokhwa, who had had some kind of conversation with Jeokryeon, watched me for about another year.
Then, as if having reached a conclusion, she asked me.
'Jeong-in-nim, by any chance, is it not fun?'
'...A little bit? Since I have to live up to your expectations after all.'
'Haa. This is my fault.'
'It cannot be helped, Mother.'
Jeokryeon with sad eyes, and Jeokhwa resolutely kicked me out of the orb.
'Jeong-in-nim must not stay here. We have taught you everything you need to learn, so go outside and live happily.'
'What did I do wrong?!'
'No. My eyes were just knotholes for failing to properly recognize Jeong-in-nim's talent.'
Jeokhwa continued bitterly.
'Do not even think about returning until you achieve your goal. This path is right for Jeong-in-nim.'
'Kk-ang! Don't go easy on Jayeon!'
...That kind of thing happened, but in fact, it's not like I can't go back.
Of course, given how much they love me.
A spatial talisman capable of teleporting to the orb lies dormant within my soul.
In a dangerous moment, or once I achieve my goal, I will return immediately.
'What is the goal?'
Not knowing that, I have been wandering around Jungju for 4 years.
For now, for fun, I've been going where the wind and my heart take me, but...
"Hey."
"Huh?"
Right then, there was a burly cultivator looking down at me.
Looking at his physique, he's an orthodox body cultivator.
His momentum isn't refined and leaks out all over the place, but he's stronger than Gong What's-his-name whose head I smashed.
"What is it?"
"What is it? Ha! Do you even know who you're talking to?"
"Aren't you a fellow preliminary participant? Do I need to know even that?"
At my single word, the atmosphere in the room completely sank.
I didn't know because I was lost in thought, but before I knew it, the preliminary waiting room was packed full of people.
The looks from the participants aimed at me were beyond lukewarm, mixed with interest as if watching a lunatic.
"You ignorant rogue cultivator bastard! Do you not know me, Gwak Cheonu of Iron Wall Gate?!"
"I only know the three major sects."
"I am a rising talent of Iron Wall Gate, a secular branch of Heaven's Degree Palace, one of those three major sects!"
"So what?"
Once, because there were only Righteous Dao cultivators in Jungju, I had expected common-sense reactions.
Like hell. The average character of cultivators doesn't go anywhere.
"Whether you're Gwak Cheolwoo or Gwak Cheolyong, why are you suddenly picking a fight with me?"
"It is because even though I entered, you dared not to glance at me once. It would only be right for you to pay your respects."
"Fuck, Cheolwoo-ya, does that even make sense?"
My head is already complicated enough, and you pick on a person for such bullshit reasons?
At my anger, Gwak Cheolwoo, as if this was what he hoped for, cracked his wrists with a snap.
"Before taking the preliminaries, I can warm up my hands once. Don't worry. With the pills this body possesses, I'll heal you well——."
Grabbing Gwak Cheolwoo's leg, I swung him repeatedly like a green giant slamming the god of mischief.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Once a round of noise passed, I felt a refreshing relief as the resentment built up inside me dissipated.
"Ah, it's a dumbass thing to do, but quite worth doing."
I let out a relieved sigh.
And I met eyes with a group of people who had just opened the door and walked in.
The characters for Cheondo written on their chests revealed where their affiliation was.
Heaven's Degree Palace, the spiritual pillar of Righteous Dao cultivators.
Their rising talent had appeared.
Like I give a shit? What are you glaring at?
"What are you looking at, is there a show?"
When I threatened them while holding Gwak Cheolwoo, who had become my sword, a young noble holding a fan gave an awkward smile.
"If a dispute occurs before the preliminaries start, it's a disqualification, though...?"
"If I fight with you, are you disqualified together with me?"
"...Hehe."